The Butler Family
William Deane Butler married Anne Heatly
born circa 1794 22 Aug 1816
died 28 Nov 1857 St Peters died Aug 1832
72 Stephens Green Stephen’s Green
William Deane Butler son of George Butler and Elizabeth Shea was born circa 1794 in Dublin. He was
living at Jervis Street when he married Anne Heatly 22 Aug 1816 at St Peter’s Church, Dublin. He was an
architect and included among his pupils were his son John and John Skipton Mulvany. He was a
founder member of the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland. In 1829 they were living at 14 Hardwick
Place then moved to 72 St Stephen’s Green in 1831.
The Dublin Zoological Gardens opened in 1831 but it was November 1832 before the English architect
Decimus Burton, who had been engaged, submitted plans by which time Williams designs for the
cottage ornee turnstile and repository had been accepted. William was president of the Society of Irish
Artists and architect to the Royal College of Surgeons. He designed the RC Church in Dundalk in 1830.
Anne died at Stephens Green in August 1832.
1 George E W Butler, eldest son born circa 1817 died in Jun 1836.
2 John Sterling Butler born circa 1818 married Bridget Teresa (Bida) Smith, daughter of James
Smith of Kilmainham at St James' RC Church on 15 Oct 1846. They lived at Grangegorman
from 1850 to 1858 and they were at 16 Hume Street by 1859. In 1850 his designs for public
baths and wash houses at the Mendicity Institution on Usher’s Island were accepted and by
1855 he had been appointed architect to the institution. In 1860 his design for an orphanage
at Glasnevin (St Vincent’s) was accepted. Like his father he designed many churches including
one at Kilmovee in Mayo and the Roman Catholic at Emo.
His design for a convalescent home at Stillorgan was accepted and building work started in
1866 and in that same year he was appointed City Architect and moved to 60 Stephen’s Green.
He also designed Dunphy’s corner in 1873 (now known as Doyle’s corner) at Phibsboro.
1 Anne George Butler baptised 9 Jul 1850 at St James' Church.
2 James Butler baptised 24 Oct 1853 at St James' Church.
In 1878 it was alleged that he had fathered three illegitimate children with Ann Slevin of 81
Bride Street (living in one room). This was brought to public notice when one of the children
died and the case ended up with the coroner’s court. He resigned his job as city architect and
fled Ireland. The two remaining Slevin boys were found wandering in Bride Street in April 1878,
their mother was in prison awaiting trial and their father had absconded. They were placed in
the workhouse. John died in Paris on 29 Jun 1885.
1 John Slevin born circa 1865.
2 William Slevin born circa 1870.
3 George Slevin born circa 1873 died 18 Mar 1878 aged 5 from consumption
found to be exacerbated by neglect by the Coroner's Court.
William secondly married Ellen Georgina Murphy, daughter of William Murphy of County Wicklow at St
Nicholas of Myra on 3 Jul 1834. The register states that William and Ellen ‘have formally declared in the
presence of John Stokes and A Harmon that they had taken each other for man and wife subsequently
renewed their matrimonial engagement.’ A Fellow of the British Institution of Architects was appointed
Architect in Ordinary to the Lord Lieutenant in 1837 a position he was reappointed to until 1855. His
design for the Archdeacon Trench Memorial at Ballinasloe was accepted in 1841. He designed Roscrea
RC Church and the Malahide Railway Station in 1844 and his design for Amiens Street Railway Station
(now called Connolly) was accepted the same year. He designed the Lunatic asylum in Sligo (now the
Clayton Hotel). Ellen Georgina died 23 Feb 1850 at Stephens Green,
3 William Fitzgerald De Vesci Butler baptised 2 Feb 1836 at St Nicholas.
4 Edward Meredith Somerville Butler born 15 Oct 1836 at Stephens Green South baptised
6 Nov 1836 at St Nicholas died 28 Nov 1895 at Synge Street, his sister Martha his executor.
5 Francisca Frances (Fanny) Butler eldest daughter born October 1837 at Stephens Green
baptised 29 Oct 1837. Fanny of 10 Windsor Tce, Kingstown married Walter Keating, a
commercial clerk and son of Walter Keating of Kells, Co Meath on 15 Oct 1867 at St Kevin’s
Church, Dublin. They moved to Prince Arthur Tce and Walter worked as a clerk in a brewery.
By 1892 they were living at Sybil Hill in Raheny. Walter was the Private Secretary to Lord
Ardilaun in 1911. Walter died 2 Jun 1918 and Fanny died 21 Nov 1918 at Kenilworth Square.
1 Eleanor Adelheid Keating only daughter born 10 Aug 1868 at 7 Prince Arthur Tce,
Leinster Square, Rathmines baptised at Holy Trinity Church, Rathmines on
18 Sep 1868. Eleanor married Thomas Edward Galt Gamble, son of Edward Gamble
and a District Inspector in the RIC on 24 Feb 1892 at All Saints, Raheny. Eleanor died
on 6 Jun 1911. The family are buried at Clontarf.
2 Walter Keating born 1 Dec 1872 at 7 Prince Albert Tce was a land agent and married
Emily Dalway Dudas Pentland, daughter of Hugh Montgomery Pentland 15 Sep 1904
at Harold’s Cross Church of Ireland.
6 Daughter Butler born February 1839 at Arklow.
7 Victoria Joanne Butler born 4 Sep 1840 at Stephens Green baptised at St Nicholas 4 Oct 1840
lived at 50 Upper Gardiner Street and of Cortegana Alemquer, Portugal died a spinster at the
home of her sister Martha on 7 Dec 1898.
8 Daughter Butler born January 1842 at Stephens Green.
9 Martha Catherine Butler baptised 28 Oct 1843 at St Nicholas moved to Belgium and lived at
4 Rue Van Orley, Brussels a spinster in 1898.
9 Son Butler born August 1845 at Stephens Green.
10 Robert Mansfield Butler baptised 16 Sep 1846 died an infant at Stephen Green on 17 Sep 1846.
11 Son Butler born 21 Mar 1848 at Stephens Green.
12 Michael Bernard Butler born February 1850 at Stephens Green baptised 30 Feb 1850 at St
Nicholas.
William thirdly married Annie Stoute, third daughter of Nicholas Purdon Stoute of Newtown Park in
Waterford on 12 Aug 1854 at the Registrar office in Dublin. He was 56 and she was under 21. Kilkenny
RC Cathedral was consecrated in 1857 which was built to his design. William died intestate on
28 Nov 1857 aged 63 at 72 Stephens Green and was interred in the vaults of St Nicholas of Myra in
Francis Street. After his death, the house and contents on Stephen’s green was put up for sale. His
huge collection of books and paintings, including many old masters were sold later. Annie was left
with at least 13 children to look after.
13 Anna Deane Butler born 21 Jun 1855 at St Stephens Green baptised at St Nicholas on
15 Jul 1855.
14 William Deane Butler born 16 Nov 1857 at St Stephens Green was baptised firstly at St
Nicholas on 8 Dec 1857 and then at St Peter’s Church on 29 Jan 1864.
©June Bow & Karen Poff – February 2020
William Deane Butler married Anne Heatly
born circa 1794 22 Aug 1816
died 28 Nov 1857 St Peters died Aug 1832
72 Stephens Green Stephen’s Green
William Deane Butler son of George Butler and Elizabeth Shea was born circa 1794 in Dublin. He was
living at Jervis Street when he married Anne Heatly 22 Aug 1816 at St Peter’s Church, Dublin. He was an
architect and included among his pupils were his son John and John Skipton Mulvany. He was a
founder member of the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland. In 1829 they were living at 14 Hardwick
Place then moved to 72 St Stephen’s Green in 1831.
The Dublin Zoological Gardens opened in 1831 but it was November 1832 before the English architect
Decimus Burton, who had been engaged, submitted plans by which time Williams designs for the
cottage ornee turnstile and repository had been accepted. William was president of the Society of Irish
Artists and architect to the Royal College of Surgeons. He designed the RC Church in Dundalk in 1830.
Anne died at Stephens Green in August 1832.
1 George E W Butler, eldest son born circa 1817 died in Jun 1836.
2 John Sterling Butler born circa 1818 married Bridget Teresa (Bida) Smith, daughter of James
Smith of Kilmainham at St James' RC Church on 15 Oct 1846. They lived at Grangegorman
from 1850 to 1858 and they were at 16 Hume Street by 1859. In 1850 his designs for public
baths and wash houses at the Mendicity Institution on Usher’s Island were accepted and by
1855 he had been appointed architect to the institution. In 1860 his design for an orphanage
at Glasnevin (St Vincent’s) was accepted. Like his father he designed many churches including
one at Kilmovee in Mayo and the Roman Catholic at Emo.
His design for a convalescent home at Stillorgan was accepted and building work started in
1866 and in that same year he was appointed City Architect and moved to 60 Stephen’s Green.
He also designed Dunphy’s corner in 1873 (now known as Doyle’s corner) at Phibsboro.
1 Anne George Butler baptised 9 Jul 1850 at St James' Church.
2 James Butler baptised 24 Oct 1853 at St James' Church.
In 1878 it was alleged that he had fathered three illegitimate children with Ann Slevin of 81
Bride Street (living in one room). This was brought to public notice when one of the children
died and the case ended up with the coroner’s court. He resigned his job as city architect and
fled Ireland. The two remaining Slevin boys were found wandering in Bride Street in April 1878,
their mother was in prison awaiting trial and their father had absconded. They were placed in
the workhouse. John died in Paris on 29 Jun 1885.
1 John Slevin born circa 1865.
2 William Slevin born circa 1870.
3 George Slevin born circa 1873 died 18 Mar 1878 aged 5 from consumption
found to be exacerbated by neglect by the Coroner's Court.
William secondly married Ellen Georgina Murphy, daughter of William Murphy of County Wicklow at St
Nicholas of Myra on 3 Jul 1834. The register states that William and Ellen ‘have formally declared in the
presence of John Stokes and A Harmon that they had taken each other for man and wife subsequently
renewed their matrimonial engagement.’ A Fellow of the British Institution of Architects was appointed
Architect in Ordinary to the Lord Lieutenant in 1837 a position he was reappointed to until 1855. His
design for the Archdeacon Trench Memorial at Ballinasloe was accepted in 1841. He designed Roscrea
RC Church and the Malahide Railway Station in 1844 and his design for Amiens Street Railway Station
(now called Connolly) was accepted the same year. He designed the Lunatic asylum in Sligo (now the
Clayton Hotel). Ellen Georgina died 23 Feb 1850 at Stephens Green,
3 William Fitzgerald De Vesci Butler baptised 2 Feb 1836 at St Nicholas.
4 Edward Meredith Somerville Butler born 15 Oct 1836 at Stephens Green South baptised
6 Nov 1836 at St Nicholas died 28 Nov 1895 at Synge Street, his sister Martha his executor.
5 Francisca Frances (Fanny) Butler eldest daughter born October 1837 at Stephens Green
baptised 29 Oct 1837. Fanny of 10 Windsor Tce, Kingstown married Walter Keating, a
commercial clerk and son of Walter Keating of Kells, Co Meath on 15 Oct 1867 at St Kevin’s
Church, Dublin. They moved to Prince Arthur Tce and Walter worked as a clerk in a brewery.
By 1892 they were living at Sybil Hill in Raheny. Walter was the Private Secretary to Lord
Ardilaun in 1911. Walter died 2 Jun 1918 and Fanny died 21 Nov 1918 at Kenilworth Square.
1 Eleanor Adelheid Keating only daughter born 10 Aug 1868 at 7 Prince Arthur Tce,
Leinster Square, Rathmines baptised at Holy Trinity Church, Rathmines on
18 Sep 1868. Eleanor married Thomas Edward Galt Gamble, son of Edward Gamble
and a District Inspector in the RIC on 24 Feb 1892 at All Saints, Raheny. Eleanor died
on 6 Jun 1911. The family are buried at Clontarf.
2 Walter Keating born 1 Dec 1872 at 7 Prince Albert Tce was a land agent and married
Emily Dalway Dudas Pentland, daughter of Hugh Montgomery Pentland 15 Sep 1904
at Harold’s Cross Church of Ireland.
6 Daughter Butler born February 1839 at Arklow.
7 Victoria Joanne Butler born 4 Sep 1840 at Stephens Green baptised at St Nicholas 4 Oct 1840
lived at 50 Upper Gardiner Street and of Cortegana Alemquer, Portugal died a spinster at the
home of her sister Martha on 7 Dec 1898.
8 Daughter Butler born January 1842 at Stephens Green.
9 Martha Catherine Butler baptised 28 Oct 1843 at St Nicholas moved to Belgium and lived at
4 Rue Van Orley, Brussels a spinster in 1898.
9 Son Butler born August 1845 at Stephens Green.
10 Robert Mansfield Butler baptised 16 Sep 1846 died an infant at Stephen Green on 17 Sep 1846.
11 Son Butler born 21 Mar 1848 at Stephens Green.
12 Michael Bernard Butler born February 1850 at Stephens Green baptised 30 Feb 1850 at St
Nicholas.
William thirdly married Annie Stoute, third daughter of Nicholas Purdon Stoute of Newtown Park in
Waterford on 12 Aug 1854 at the Registrar office in Dublin. He was 56 and she was under 21. Kilkenny
RC Cathedral was consecrated in 1857 which was built to his design. William died intestate on
28 Nov 1857 aged 63 at 72 Stephens Green and was interred in the vaults of St Nicholas of Myra in
Francis Street. After his death, the house and contents on Stephen’s green was put up for sale. His
huge collection of books and paintings, including many old masters were sold later. Annie was left
with at least 13 children to look after.
13 Anna Deane Butler born 21 Jun 1855 at St Stephens Green baptised at St Nicholas on
15 Jul 1855.
14 William Deane Butler born 16 Nov 1857 at St Stephens Green was baptised firstly at St
Nicholas on 8 Dec 1857 and then at St Peter’s Church on 29 Jan 1864.
©June Bow & Karen Poff – February 2020